Grass & Stone Pavers

Stone pavers create simple patio spaces.

Grass and stone pavers are used by homeowners and landscape designers to create pathways, replace driveways and change the look of yard spaces. The variety of pavers available give homeowners freedom to be creative and use them to design a space that is functional and attractive.

Green Alternatives

Grass pavers offer a great alternative to driveways and other parking areas. Their hollow, honeycomb grid design is placed over gravel or other soil before being planted with grass seed. The grass fills the grid and covers the paver, creating a space that can withstand heavier traffic and looks beautiful. Grass pavers are made from concrete, hard plastic and even recycled materials. They come in flexible rolls and the installation is quick. The authors of “City and Environment” say that on hot, summer days grass pavers keep areas cool—a definite advantage over paving materials like asphalt that heat up under the sun.

Stone

Natural stone pavers are used in a variety of ways from lining walkways to covering the perimeter around a pool. They can be purchased in cut geometric shapes or in rough-hewn pieces and are made from stone such as sandstone, limestone, granite, travertine and slate. According to “Patios and Walkways,” granite is the most durable of the natural stone pavers but is also the most difficult to work with. Large, flat pieces of stone are referred to as flagging and are often held together with mortar between the pavers. The irregular cut stone is used on patios and among landscape for a more rustic look. Shape cut stone pavers offer more flexibility in style, as they can be used together to form patterns, alternating colors and textures.

Hardscapes

Hardscaping is a type of landscaping that uses stone to enhance and often substitute for live landscaping. Stone pavers are used to create wide patios, stairs and walkways, as well as lining ponds and creating water falls. These items should blend in with the surroundings and are best when paired with local plants and flowers. Lynn M. Steiner suggests using ground cover in between pavers for a more natural, wild look.

Uniformity

Pavers are often used to create workable, livable spaces, whether in the form of patios or walkways. Cut pavers and grass pavers offer users a way to create a uniform pattern and incorporate colors and textures that blend with the rest of the landscaping, according to “Stonescaping Made Simple.” Grass pavers can be placed in a variety of patterns and interspersed with other vegetation or stone to create unique gardens and outdoor landscaping. Even uneven stone pavers have a uniform feel when the stones are chosen with care to fit together.

Maintenance

Stone and grass pavers both require different degrees of work to maintain. Grass pavers, once installed and established, can be watered and mowed just like any grass lawn. Stone pavers can break or crumble along the edges and those pieces may need to be replaced. Stone pavers also require mortar or gravel filling to keep them in place. These fillers require repair or replacement after a certain degree of wear.

References

• "Landscaping with Native Plants of Wisconsin"; Lynn M. Steiner; 2007
• "Patios and Walkways"; Peter Jeswald; 2010
• "City and Environment"; Christopher G. Boone, Ali Modarres; 2006
• "Sustainable Landscape Construction"; J. William Thompson, Kim Sorvig; 2007
• "John Deere: Stonescaping Made Simple: Bring the Beauty of Stone Into Your Yard"; David Griffin, Kristen Hampshire; 2009